The Persecuted 

 
Prayers for January 8, 2008
From The Voice of the Martyrs


CHINA UPDATE: Case of Arrested House Church Leader Returned to Public Security Bureau - China Aid Association
On November 22, the case for house church leader Zhou Heng was returned to the Public Security Bureau by the Shayibake District People's Procuratorate of Urumqi city, Xingjiang province, China. According to China Aid Association, "Under heavy pressure from the international community, the prosecutors sent back Zhou's case because of insufficient evidence to indict him." Zhou Heng was arrested in August 2007, for receiving three tons of Bibles donated by South Korean churches. The Bibles were intended for distribution to local believers free of charge. Prior to his arrest, Zhou managed a bookstore, called Yayi Christian Bookroom, and sold religious books. Authorities have closed the bookstore. Pray for the case against Zhou Heng to be dropped. Ask God to protect Christians who live and share their faith under difficult conditions. Isaiah 26: 3, Psalm 23 Psalm 118:17, Psalm 91


NIGERIA Ten Killed, Churches and Homes Burned - Compass Direct News
Ten people were killed, several Christians injured seriously and churches, businesses and homes burned, when Muslim extremists went on a rampage in Yelwa Tudu, Bauchi state, Northern Nigeria on December 11, 2007, According to Compass Direct News, the violence occurred after unidentified people pulled out two bricks from the foundation of a mosque under construction at the Baba Tank Secondary School in Kagadama shortly after construction began on December 2. Compass Direct added, "Muslim extremists believed Christians were responsible for the damage and threatened to attack local believers. Area Muslims joined the attacking students, resulting in the deaths and damages in the city, including the burning of dozens of homes belonging to Christians. The Redeemed Christian Church of God, the Assemblies of God Church and Elim Church were set on fire and damaged. At least a dozen Christian homes were destroyed in the attack." Only one of those killed has been identified as a Christian. The identities of the other nine were reportedly kept a secret by the government and their bodies were hurriedly buried in one grave. Pray the Lord will fill Christians with His peace and strength as they recover from this attack. Ask God to comfort those who have lost loved ones. Pray Christ will be exalted through this tragedy and that people in this area will continue to be drawn to Him. Philippians 1:20, Psalm 107:2


TURKEY Catholic Priest Stabbed - Compass Direct News
On December 16, a 19-year-old Muslim man stabbed a Catholic priest in the stomach outside a Catholic church in Turkey. According to Compass Direct News, Father Adriano Franchini was stabbed near Izmir's St. Anthony Church by a man identified as Ramazan Bay. Although the attacker fled the scene, he was arrested an hour later. Compass Direct reported, "According to the daily Hurriyet newspaper, the arrested assailant admitted in his statement to the police that he had been influenced by a recent episode of the popular television serial drama 'Kurtla Vadisi' (Valley of the Wolves)." The series caricatures Christian missionaries as political "infiltrators" who pay poor families to convert to Christianity. This recent incident is the latest violent attack on Turkey's Christian community. In April 2007, two Turkish converts and a German citizen were tortured and killed at a Christian publishing house in Malatya, Turkey. Five Muslim men confessed to the killings and were arrested. Their trial is currently in progress. Pray for protection for Turkey's Christians. Ask God to give them wisdom as they share the gospel in dangerous situations. Isaiah 54:17, Psalm 91


INDIA Christians Killed, Homes and Churches Burned - VOM Sources
Four Christians were killed, many injured and numerous homes and churches destroyed or damaged in Orissa state in violent clashes that began on Christmas Eve. According to The Voice of the Martyrs sources in India, "Hindu extremists used anti-conversion laws to terrorize Christians. More than 18 churches and prayer houses were ransacked and torched in several areas of Kandhamai district in Orissa. Rev. Basant Diggal, reports that he was assaulted and his motorcycle damaged by a group of miscreants in Minia area where vandals went on a rampage causing damage to another church." VOM sources added Hindu extremists in Orissa have been threatening and terrorizing Christians who are marginalized and are in the minority. VOM sources said, "The attacks took place for the sole reason of terrorizing the Christian community and stopping our missionary work. But the church has always grown in persecution and this will happen again in Orissa. The church which grows in love and unity has as its basis a faith marked by suffering and persecution." Pray for Christians in India who are faced with immense difficulty at this time. Pray for the families of the killed and those whose homes and churches were damaged or destroyed. Ask God to give believers courage to remain faithful despite persecution. Psalm 27:1, Romans 8:31
 

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Baptist publicly tortured for 'spreading Christianity'

WORLDNETDAILY - October 11, 2007
The manager of a Christian bookstore in the Gaza Strip who was found dead last weekend was first publicly beaten and tortured by Islamic gunmen accusing him of spreading Christianity, according to witnesses and Palestinian security officials speaking to WND. - - -
According to witnesses and security officials associated with Hamas' so-called Executive Force speaking to WND, Ayyad was publicly tortured a few blocks from his store before he was shot to death.
The witnesses said they saw three armed men, two of whom were wearing masks, beat Ayyad repeatedly with clubs and the butts of their guns while they accused him of attempting to spread Christianity in Gaza. The witnesses said that after sustaining the beating, Ayyad was shot by all three men
Hamas security sources told WND Ayyad's body showed signs of torture.
Ayyad was buried Sunday, leaving behind a pregnant wife and two young children. No group has taken responsibility for the attack.
Sheik Abu Saqer, leader of Jihadia Salafiya, an Islamic outreach movement that recently announced the opening of a "military wing" to enforce Muslim law in Gaza, told WND although his group "didn't carry out the Ayyad attack," all Christians in Gaza engaged in missionary activity will be "dealt with harshly." - - -
About 3,000 Christians live in the Gaza Strip, which has a population of over 1 million.
Immediately after Hamas' Gaza coup, Abu Saqer told WND in an exclusive interview Christians could continue living safely in the Gaza Strip only if they accepted Islamic law, including a ban on alcohol and on women roaming publicly without proper head coverings. - - - -
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Burma: Christian converts face crackdown

Excluded from homes, villages in Buddhism- dominated nation

WORLDNETDAILY - September 29, 2007

The Burma military government's crackdown on pro- democracy demonstrators has raised alarms among world powers in recent days, but that's only one of the head-to-head clashes occurring in the Asian nation, according to Voice of the Martyrs, the worldwide ministry to persecuted Christians.

The second war being waged is the crackdown on Buddhists who renounce their old gods in favor of Christianity.

"Please pray for me," begs a 65-year-old man in message to VOM, "as I have been forced to leave my village, my wife and my two children who I love dearly.

"I pray that I may soon be able to return back to them. I love them but I cannot do what they have asked me to do - curse my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, come back to Buddha and my family."

The testimony, VOM said, is representative from individuals who come to Christianity in Burma. - - - -


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Iran:Judge rules beating victim guilty of 'evangelism'

Says persecutors had right to attack because woman shared Christian testimony

WORLDNETDAILY - November 2, 2007

An Iranian judge has concluded a woman who was attacked and beaten and had her sewing shop equipment destroyed by vandals has no legal recourse because she was guilty of "evangelism," according to a new report from Voice of the Martyrs, a worldwide ministry to the Persecuted Church.

WND earlier reported that persecution of Christians inside Iran is on the increase, and the new report appears to confirm that. - - - -

INDONESIA
Christian Churches Attacked - Christian World News
Recently, a mob of Muslim extremists attacked a house church outside Jakarta, Indonesia, smashing glass windows and destroying property. The extremists threw bricks and stones at Christians. According to Christian World News (CWN), "Church members were hurt, including the head pastor, Lau Doloksaribu, who received two stitches in his temple." Speaking to CWN News, Doloksaribu, who heads Protestant Batak Church, said the attack was not just on his body, but the extremists had assaulted his God-given rights. He added, "The freedom to worship is a basic human right. It is not given by government or the authorities, but it is a free gift from God that should be respected by everyone. And actually, the freedom to worship is guaranteed by the law." The CWN News report stated, "Victims of the attacks say the Indonesian government is doing little to protect their right to worship without interference. Houses of worship are required to have a minimum of 90 members. They must also receive the approval of at least 60 neighbors before they legally hold services." Pray for Christians wounded in the attack and ask God to protect them. Isaiah 40:31, Romans 8:11Crackdown on Christians could go nationwide

Fears raised that Islamic law will expand under new president